Health tips for Go Teng Kok et al.
HEALTH tips: 10 Worst Foods declared by the World Health Organization (WHO), seven of which are found in the Philippines:
1. French Fries large (200 ml. of oil)
2. Ice cream/doughnut
3. Burger
4. Iced tea: ICF-dehydration
5. Chippy Red: Large (2-3 tbsp salt)
6. Instant Canton: 1 pack, needs 3 days before being detoxified by the liver
7. Sweetened pork (tocino, longanisa, etc.)
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That’s from my insan, Gary Luistro Mendoza of Lipa City and the Ateneo Law School.
“Pass to your friends and relatives if you care,” pleads Gary, one-time city fiscal of Lipa and former chief of the Bureau of Immigration’s regulation division. “Happy healthy living,” Gary wishes you all out there. Happy, fruitful campaigning in the Asian Games, Rep. Manny Pacquiao wishes members of the China-bound Philippine contingent, who will head for the Guangzhou Asian Games next month. As a gesture of support for Filipino athletes, Pacquiao has agreed to lend his famous conditioning coach and nutritionist, Colombian Alex Ariza, to help guide national athletes with their nutrients and respective regimen.* * *
That assistance from the celebrated conditioning expert can only be expected to reap rewards, if not in the form of immediate medals, in better conditioning and more significant results in the future. But, while at it, maybe the Pacman should also be requested to have the amiable Señor Ariza assist top Filipino sports officials with their nutritional needs. You see, this fact has often been disregarded, but a lot, if not all, of an athlete’s output depend on the health of his patrons and leaders. Sports officials must also be at their healthiest, sharpest best when making decisions in preparation for and during major international campaigns.
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For example, many people did not fully subscribe to the decision of athletics chief Go Teng Kok to disqualify Laos Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Jho-an Banayag from the RP team after she broke a directive for Asiad-bound Filipino marathoners not to compete in any 42K event two months before the Guangzhou Asian Games. Banayag joined the inaugural CamSur International Marathon on Sept. 26 despite Go’s order. “I have no choice, she was our lone qualifier in the women’s marathon, but she has to go,” Go explained. With the suspension, Banayag’s monthly training stipend of P10,000 (which she said was not even enough to buy her vitamins) has been stopped.
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Rules are rules, and should not be bent. “Sorry, but I was forced to defy Mr. Go’s order because my family really needs the money,” Banayag explained stoically. She pocketed P125,000 for finishing as the best among local female bets, seventh behind six Kenyans, in Camarines Sur. Knowing Go and how he rules the athletics kingdom, Ms Banayag’s fate is sealed. OK, she did not do it as an outright defiance, but it’s doubtful if Go, who could have heard Banayag’s side, would ever reconsider his “unhealthy” decision. This late, there’s nothing Alex Ariza and boxing superhero Manny Pacquiao can do to squeeze a healthy, sparkling verdict from Go Teng Kok et al. Or does anybody out there have a secret potion that can provide balance and sobriety to key decision makers in sports here?
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